Latest update – 5:15 pm CET
Employees and workers in Iran’s oil and gas sector launched new strikes on Tuesday in the latest continuation of Iran’s nationwide uprising that is now marking its 125th day on Wednesday. Yesterday’s protests, including official Oil Ministry employees, is a reminder of the vast scope of the anti-regime protests seen across Iran and the fragility of the regime in the face of people from all walks of life taking to the streets and bringing to a halt the regime’s vital infrastructure.
While Iran sits on the world’s second largest natural gas and fourth largest crude oil reserves, the Iranian people are suffering from severe cooking/heating gas shortages and are unable to even procure fuel for their various types of vehicles.
With reports arriving from cities across the country, people are voicing their hatred of regime Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, his regime in its entirety, and especially the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) and paramilitary Basij units.
Protests in Iran have to this day expanded to at least 282 cities. Over 750 people have been killed and more than 30,000 are arrested by the regime’s forces, according to sources of the Iranian opposition People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK). The names of 637 killed protesters have been published by the PMOI/MEK.
In the latest reports on Wednesday morning local farmers in Isfahan rallied outside the governor’s office in a continuation of their protests that began yesterday.
January 18 – Isfahan, central #Iran
Local farmers rallying outside the governor's office are protesting the regime's policies and demanding answers to their long-raised issues.#IranRevolution2023 pic.twitter.com/5pzMeIyCfE— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) January 18, 2023
On Tuesday these farmers were protesting the regime’s corrupt policies and demanding answers to their dilemmas that have been raised with officials for years and yet left unanswered and in limbo. They were seen marching and chanting:
“Death to this deceptive government!”
“Raisi, you liar! What happened to the Zayandehrud River?!”
In reports from abroad, the European Parliament made a strong move today with a near unanimous vote on a decision to call on the European Union and its Member States to proscribe the Iranian regime’s IRGC as a terrorist organization. 598 Members of the European Parliament voted to adopt an amendment presented by the European Conservatives and Reformists Group that has now become part of the European Parliament report on the implementation of the common foreign and security policy.
The amendment “condemns the brutal crackdown by Iran, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), on the demonstrators after the death of Mahsa Amini, following her violent arrest, abuse and ill-treatment by Iran’s ‘morality police’; calls for the EU and its Member States to include the IRGC in the EU’s terrorist list in the light of its terrorist activity, the repression of protesters and its supplying of drones to Russia.”
Congratulations!
An amendment was adopted by majority of MEPs at EU Parliament calling for the EU to #BlacklistIRGC pic.twitter.com/v9ILv4sX57— Friends of a Free Iran – EP (@FOFI_EP) January 18, 2023
On Tuesday morning, official workers of the Aghajari oil and gas company held a protest rallying demanding better pay based on the regime’s own laws, an end to additional taxes on their paychecks, an increase in pay and retirement pensions, and improved recreational services and hygiene standards.
A similar protest was held by official workers of the Cheshme Khosh oil and gas company. Activists in other cities are also reporting official employees of the country’s oil and gas sites, and refineries are protesting for similar demands. At least 11 such protest rallies have been reported as of the time of this report’s publication, including workers of the Sarkhas oil and gas sites in Abadan, southwest Iran, going on strike today.
In Tehran, the country’s capital, locals gathered on Tuesday to honor the memory of Mohsen Shekari, a young man arrested for his involvement in the recent Iranian revolution protests, saw authorities dispatch numerous security units to the scene to prevent and if necessary quell any possible anti-regime protests.
Iranian opposition coalition NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavi honored the memory of Mohsen Shekari and emphasized that the Iranian people will continue the ongoing Iran revolution protests against the mullahs’ regime.
“On the 40th day of the martyrdom of Mohsen Shekari, we salute him, and the defiant youths hanged on Khamenei’s order. Their lifeless bodies are the liveliest souls of our time and hoisted flags indicating the continuation of Iran’s protests and revolution,” the NCRI President-elect underscored.
On the 40th day of martyrdom of #MohsenShekari, we salute him and the defiant youths hanged on Khamenei’s order. Their lifeless bodies are the liveliest souls of our time and hoisted flags indicating the continuation of #IranProtests and #IranRevolution pic.twitter.com/comW8QzJF1
— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) January 17, 2023
In Shush of Khuzestan Province in southwest Iran, retirees and pensioners of the regime’s Social Security Organization gathered on Monday and were protesting low pensions and poor economic conditions. Regime officials refrain from addressing the pensioners’ demands. The protesters complain that their meager pensions are not nearly enough to cover their most basic expenses and are often delayed for several months.
January 16 – Shush, southwest #Iran
Retirees and pensioners of the regime's Social Security Organization protesting low pensions and poor economic conditions.#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/phwftCKbfw— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) January 16, 2023
Locals in the capital’s Narmak district were seen taking to the streets and continuing the nationwide protests against the mullahs’ regime on Tuesday evening, marking the 124th night of the uprising.
They were chanting: “Death to the dictator!” and “Death to Khamenei!”
The protests in Iran began following the death of Mahsa Amini. Mahsa (Zhina) Amini, a 22-year-old woman from the city of Saqqez in Kurdistan Province, western Iran, who traveled to Tehran with her family, was arrested on Tuesday, September 13, at the entry of Haqqani Highway by the regime’s so-called “Guidance Patrol” and transferred to the “Moral Security” agency.
She was brutally beaten by the morality police and died of her wounds in a Tehran hospital on September 16. The event triggered protests that quickly spread across Iran and rekindled the people’s desire to overthrow the regime.
